Ebonyi APC Lauds Judiciary for Upholding Umahi’s Defection, Backs His Presidential Aspiration

From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha has commended the judiciary for upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by striking out the suit challenging the defection of Governor David Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party at the center (APC).

Governor Umahi, had in November 2020, dumped the PDP upon which he was elected two terms and moved over to the APC.

In view of this, the plaintiff, Senator Sunny Ogbuorji, approached the Court by way of originating summons praying the court to hold that Governor Umahi having defected to the APC from the PDP through which he was elected ought to vacate the office, alongside his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe upon the defection.

Ogbuorji also prayed the Court to order for his swearing in, having come second during the 2019 governorship election in the state under the platform of the APC.

Senator Ogbuoji was the APC’s governorship candidate during the 2019 election.

But Governor Umahi in his defense argued that the plaintiff was relying on the pre-election/election qualification issues which ought not to be.

He further argued that there is no provision in the constitution that provides for defection as one of the grounds for the vacation or removal of a person as Governor or as Deputy Governor.

He cited certain judicial pronouncements on similar matters especially at Appellant Courts, leading to his victory in the Abakaliki Division of Ebonyi State High Court on Monday 28th February, 2022.

Emegha thus, commended the judiciary after the court presided over by Justice Henry Njoku gave the verdict in Abakaliki, describing the suit as lacking in merit and awarded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000.00) as damages against the plaintiff.

The State APC Boss who said the judgement was anticipated because the provisions of the constitution on the matter were crystal clear appreciated Ebonyi people who first gave the verdict via the polls because of their satisfaction with Governor Umahi’s trajectory in Infrastructural development and peace building among communities within and outside the state during his first tenure in office.

“In all honesty, for the right thinking citizens like us who participated in the last General Election especially from Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state where coincidentally I and the plaintiff Chief Sunny Ogbuorji hail from, we all knew that the electorate voted massively for Governor David Umahi because of his achievements in his first tenure,” he said.

Describing the suit as frivolous and exercise in futility, the APC Chairman said although the court action has never in anyway distracted the Governor from focusing in delivering good governance to the people of the state re-echoed the determination of present administration to rather do more to stimulate all round development for the benefit of all.

According to him, “the verdict has reaffirmed the saying that the judiciary is truly the last hope of the common man. It has also given more strengthen and hope to the Nigerian people that the judiciary is still very strong and unbiased.

“There were never a time the matter distracted the Governor because on several occasions he reassured the people of the state that all the ongoing projects will be completed before he bows out of office in 2023. My Principal is focused and ever determined to leave office as the best Governor in history of the country”. Chief Emegha emphasized.

“To the family of the ruling APC, this is a welcome development. The battle is over and the Governor still remains the number citizen of the state. He has a covenant with God to rapidly develop the state and it’s inhabitants. However, in the spirit of sportsmanship the plaintiff who is now an integral part of the party cannot even appeal the judgement because there were overwhelming evidence that the suit lacked merit as read out by the presiding judge

Emegha equally used the opportunity to canvass more support for Umahi’s presidential ambition.